Electrically heated touring ski base wax applicator device

ABSTRACT

A touring ski base wax applicator device comprises an open bottom housing having an electric radiant heating source therein for applying heat to a ski base. The front and rear walls of the housing are each provided with a recess having a depth and width sufficient to allow the housing side walls to overlap the sides of the ski base when the housing is placed on a ski. A pair of shafts each carrying a plurality of wheels is provided in the housing to displace the housing over the ski base in such manner that the side walls of the housing overlap the side of the ski base. A handle is provided on the housing for manipulating the device over the ski base.

United States Patent [1 1 Herniter Oct. 14, 1975 [54] ELECTRICALLY HEATED TOURING SKI 363,160 11/1922 Germany 219/228 BASE WAX APPLICATOR DEVICE 762,558 1/1934 France 219/228 [76] Inventor: Myron M. Herniter, 2O Regina Place, Yonkers, NY. 10703 Primary Bams 22 Filed; July 12, 974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacob L. Kollin [21] Appl. No.: 488,206

[52] US. Cl. 219/228; 30/140; 156/579; ABSTRACT 219/342; 219/346; 219/533; 280/11.37 T [51] Int. Cl. 11058 13/02 A touring ski base wax applicator device comprises an [58] ie O Search open bottom housing having an electric radiant heat- 280/1 ing source therein for applying heat to a ski base. The /5 57 front and rear walls of the housing are each provided with a recess having a depth and width sufficient to [56] References Cited allow the housing side walls to overlap the sides of the UNITED STATES PATENTS ski bme when the housing is placed on a ski. A pair of 2 240 913 5 1941 Roskos 219/346 Shafts each Carrying a plurality of Wheels is Provided 2:254:925 9/1941 Wirth 219/228 in the housing to displace the housing over the ski 2,588,185 3 1952 Walter 219/228 base in su mann r that th side walls of the housin 2,632,087 3/1953 DHar1ingue.... 219/228 overlap the side of the ski base. A handle is provided ,68 8 1954 t p ns 219/228 on the housing for manipulating the device over the 3,400,244 9/ 1968 Meltzer 219/228 ki base.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 110,615 10/1917 United Kingdom 219/228 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 3 912 902 24 HHIP ELECTRICALLY HEATED TOURING SKI BASE WAX APPLICATOR DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ski touring is probably the fastest growing outdoor sport in the country today. It is a relatively inexpensive sport when compared to down hill skiing. Many families derive great pleasure from this new sport.

There is however one problem with ski-touring that for many takes away some of the enjoyment of that sport. That problem is that each year the touring skis must be prepared for the winter use, unlike downhill skis.

A coating of base wax must be applied to the underside (snowside) of the skis. The purpose of the base wax is twofold. First that the ski becomes water proof. The base wax becomes a surface upon which other waxes are applied. These other various waxes are applied at each use of the skis. The waxes to be used are determined by the snow conditions and temperature.

The application of the base wax therefore becomes an important facotr in the success and enjoyment of ski-touring. The base wax is usually applied to the bottom of the skis with a paint brush and is then heated with an open torch in order to bring the base wax to a boil, causing it to penetrate the wood better. The excess wax is then wiped off.

Applying the torch to the ski with the base wax on it is a very difficult operation. The torch must be held over the ski, close enough so that the base wax will be brought to a boil, but not close enough so that the wax will ignite. This is a tedious and dangerous process. If the torch is brought too close to the ski there is the possibility of the wax catching fire, as it is highly flammable.

This invention employs an electric heating element to bring the base wax to a boil. The heating element positioned at the top of a housing surrounded by insulation above it. Wheels at the bottom of the housing provide for the back and forth movement of the housing along the length of the ski.

The invention will now be more fully described in the following specification and the accompanying drawing.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the appended drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these are given by way of illustration and not of limitation and that changes may be made in the detail construction, form and size of the parts, without affecting the scope of the invention sought to be protected.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the touring ski base wax applicator;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view, seen in the direction of the arrows 3-3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the wax applicator, comprises a housing generally indicated by the numeral 6, having a front wall 8, a rear wall 10, side walls 12,14 and a top wall 16. The front and rear walls are formed with recesses l7, 17. A hollow handle 18, provided with a heat insulating grip 20 is secured to the top wall 16.

The inner faces of the housings walls are lined with heat insulating asbestos 22. Secured to the top wall 16 inwardly of the housing, on insulator blocks 19, is a heating element 24. An electrical cord 26, extending through handle 18 connects the heating element, through an on-and-off toggle switch 28 with a source of electrical current.

Mounted for rotation on a pair of shafts 30,30, secured between the side walls 12,14, are two pairs of wheels 32,32. The wheels are spaced in such a manner that they travel in parallel paths on the underside or ski base of a ski 34, detachably secured to C-clamps 36,36 by means of rubber suction cups 38,38. The C-clamps may be secured to a table top 40 or the like.

In use, the ski is clamped to a flat surface. The base wax is applied to the snow side of the ski. The cord from the applicator is plugged into an electrical outlet. Allow a few minutes for the heating element to warm up. The heat applicator is then placed on the ski and rolled slowly on its wheels. As it is moved, it boils the base wax under the hot element. The heat applicator is held and moved by a handle above it. The excess wax is then wiped off.

This heating device can also be used to simplify the application of ski waxes. Ski waxes are used for different skiing (snow) conditions. These ski waxes are applied to the foundation base wax. Hard waxes are used on cold, granular, fresh snow. Soft waxes are applied when the snow is moist and old. The waxes are rubbed on to the base of the skis. They are then spread with cork spreader. Heating the ski waxes simplifies the spreading of the waxes as they move more easily when warm.

I claim:

1. A touring ski base wax applicator device comprising, in combination, a housing having front and rear walls formed with bottom recessed portions, a pair of side walls, a top wall and an open bottom, an electrical radiant heating source in said housing for applying heat to a ski base, means for displacing said housing on a ski base, the recessed portions of the front and rear walls being of a width and depth sufficient to allow the side walls to overlap the sides of a ski when the device is placed thereon, said means for applying heat comprising an electrical resistance element mounted in said housing beneath said top wall and non-conductive spacers insulating said electrical resistance element from said housing/,/ said means for displacing said housing comprising a pair of shafts secured to the side walls of said housing and a plurality of ski base engaging wheels rotatable on said shafts said wheels being located interiorly of the housing and positioned to engage the surface of the ski portion within the housing, the wheels having their outmost peripheral surfaces spaced above the lower edge of the side walls a distance greater than the thickness of the ski but less than the depth of the recessed portion of the front and rear walls, and a handle on the housing for manipulating the device.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner faces of said housings walls are lined with asbestos.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further provided with'an electrical cord extending through said handle into said housing for connecting said heating element 

1. A touring ski base wax applicator device comprising, in combination, a housing having front and rear walls formed with bottom recessed portions, a pair of side walls, a top wall and an open bottom, an electrical radiant heating source in said housing for applying heat to a ski base, means for displacing said housing on a ski base, the recessed portions of the front and rear walls being of a width and depth sufficient to allow the side walls to overlap the sides of a ski when the device is placed thereon, said means for applying heat comprising an electrical resistance element mounted in said housing beneath said top wall and non-conductive spacers insulating said electrical resistance element from said housing/,/ , said means for displacing said housing comprising a pair of shafts secured to the side walls of said housing and a plurality of ski base engaging wheels rotatable on said shafts said wheels being located interiorly of the housing and positioned to engage the surface of the ski portion within the housing, the wheels having their outmost peripheral surfaces spaced above the lower edge of the side walls a distance greater than the thickness of the ski but less than the depth of the recessed portion of the front and rear walls, and a handle on the housing for manipulating the device.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner faces of said housing''s walls are lined with asbestos.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further provided with an electrical cord extending through said handle into said housing for connecting said heating element to a source of power. 